Is Mike Wallace worth a $60 million contract from the Dolphins?

Dolphins have identified receiver Mike Wallace as their top free agent target, but is the former Steelers receiver worth $12 million a season?

February 19, 2013|By Omar Kelly, Commentary

Ever try negotiating the price of a new Maserati or Bentley?

Only so many of those exotic cars are sold in this country, and those who want them generally pay top dollar. The demand usually exceeds the supply, and as a result the price is typically the price.

The same concept applies to the top shelf free agents in professional sports. If you want them, expect to overpay.

The Miami Dolphins haven't hidden the fact they'll upgrade the receiver position through free agency, providing quarterback Ryan Tannehill the weapons he needs to jump start the passing game.

"I think this is the year that you've got to do something," General Manager Jeff Ireland said. "We're looking for playmakers on offense."

Multiple sources tell the Sun-Sentinel Steelers receiver Mike Wallace, who won't be given the franchise tag by the Steelers this offseason, is the team's top target.

And much like Miami's pursuit of Jim Harbaugh, Jeff Fisher and Peyton Manning, everyone inside the NFL knows Dolphins owner Steve Ross is a big spender, and expects him to set the bidding market high.

Considering Wallace turned down an offer from Pittsburgh that trumped the five-year, $55.5 million deal Vincent Jackson got from Tampa Bay as an unrestricted free agent last offseason, expect a contract being placed on a table that pays Wallace in the range of $60 million or $12 million a season during unauthorized contract negotiations at this week's NFL combine.

If the sticker price for this two-time Pro Bowler scares you, please calm down and consider the Dolphins paid Jake Long that type of money ($57.5 million over five seasons), and he didn't even score touchdowns.

Is Wallace worth $12 million a season?

That's debatable, and his critics will point to his drops (21 in the past four seasons), how he's a product of Ben Roethlisberger's numerous broken plays, and his supposedly diva-esque personality to discredit him. But every free agent has their warts. That's why their old team is cutting them loose.

Fans can only cross their fingers and hope their team gets what they pay for. But you don't go shopping in Beverly Hills and then complain how expensive everything is.

That's free agency. But there is no denying the fact Wallace been one of the NFL's game changers since entering the league in 2009.

Out of all the receivers who played in 2012, Randy Moss (52), Larry Fitzgerald (34), Calvin Johnson (33) and Marques Colston (33) are the only playmakers who scored more touchdowns than the 32 Wallace produced in his first four seasons.

There are fewer than a dozen NFL receivers who can do what Wallace does, forcing defenses to adjust to him, putting a safety over the top of where he lines up. Few receivers have both the sub 4.4 speed needed to provide deep ball plays, and the athleticism required to produce yards after the catch.

Wallace does it all, and is the only free agent who fulfills Ross' mandate for 2013, which is "we have to be more explosive."

While Greg Jennings and Dwayne Bowe are good, viable, older options that will certainly improve Miami's passing game, neither provide the fear factor needed to keep a defensive coordinator up late nights.

Wallace averages 17.2 yards per reception throughout his career, and if he stays on that pace all it would take is 59 receptions for Wallace to produce his third 1,000-yard season. Davone Bess contributed 778 yards on 61 catches.

The biggest question surrounding Wallace is whether he'd stay on that elite pace after receiving his first big deal?

Money drives us all, and his pursuit of it somewhat explains his lackluster 2012 season, which featured him catching 64 passes for 834 yards and scoring eight touchdowns in 15 games.

What happens to Wallace once $24-30 million is guaranteed on his next deal? The Steelers clearly know something because teams rarely let a player of his caliber get away with no strings attached.

Dolphins fans better hope that if Miami does end up going the Wallace route he'll perform like an exotic ride because there is no lemon law protection when it comes to top shelf free agency.